RANCHO CUCAMONGA - Protests are continuing against the building of a cell tower on the property of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

Parents gathered after school on Friday in front of the church, just west of where Foothill Boulevard meets the 15 Freeway. Cars and commercial trucks beeped their horns while children played around their parents who held signs that read "Stop Cell Tower" and "Protect our kids."

The parents said they are concerned over radiation from the tower posing a health risk to children who will spend hours, and even years, on the property attending school. A petition is being circulated against the cell tower.

"I will remove my daughter if it goes up," said Yesenia Olague, an opponent of the project and a parent at the school.

"A lot of the parents that have signed the petition, many of them will remove their children."

Diocese of San Bernardino officials maintain the cell tower would not harm anyone.

Diocese spokesman John Andrews said the tower would emit radiation far below levels permitted by the government, and a recent decision to move the tower from an approved location next to a meeting hall at the school was in part an effort to defuse community opposition to the project.

Plans now call for the tower to be located on the southwest corner of the church property, which is just east of where Foothill Boulevard meets the 15 Freeway.

Verizon is building the tower and the church would receive monthly revenue from the agreement.

Parent Erika Gutierrez is among those considering removing their children from the school if the tower is built on church grounds.

"I don't think it's good for them no matter how close or far away it is," Gutierrez said. "It's still on the premises and I don't think they should do it."

Andrews said the diocese hopes parents don't remove children from the school.

"We certainly do not want to see them do that," Andrews said.

"That's not the outcome that we would want. We want them to continue to have a good experience at the school and a Catholic education."

Permits for the project have yet to be approved by city officials, Andrews said.